Local Students Gobble-up the Competition in Restaurant Concept Design Contest

on
Thursday, March 24, 2016

Representative Ives was proud to help cheer-on a high school management team from the culinary program at Technology Center of DuPage to an impressive 3rd Place finish in the Restaurant Concept Design Competition at the 2016 Illinois ProStart Student Invitational.

Each team developed a restaurant concept from scratch, developed a business proposal, then, after weeks of fine-tuning, pitched their plan to a panel of industry professionals. Their presentations included the rationale for the concept, menu, target market and promotional strategy.

Team TCD's concept was "KAPEK," an international sandwich company. Placing among the top three teams at the state competition means a medal and scholarship money for the team members, including three from Wheaton Warrenville CUSD 200:

Keenan Suacillo, a junior from Wheaton Warrenville South (Wheaton resident), plans to return to TCD next year, then after graduation attend either Kendall College or the Culinary Institute of America for a degree in hospitality management.

Alyna Wilson, a senior from Wheaton North (Carol Stream resident), is interested in pursuing hospitality management in college.

Paola Ramos, a senior from Wheaton Warrenville South (Warrenville resident), plans to pursue radiography at College of DuPage, using her TCD experience to help put herself through school.

All three took part in the recent Foundation Dinner at TCD, which served 175 guests. Proceeds from the dinner go toward the postsecondary education of the high school students in the Professional Cooking, Baking & Service program at TCD.